Samsung UMPC's still behind.

James Kendrick of JKontherun.com website has reported that Samsung is tweaking their Q1U.

Samsung releases the Q1 Ultra Premium

Samsung has announced the latest version of the venerable Q1 UMPC, the Q1 Ultra Premium. The Ultra Premium is largely the same hardware-wise with the exception being bigger keys on that split QWERTY thumboard on the sides of the screen. From the Samsung press release:

Aimed at the commercial market, as well as to those individuals that travel frequently and thereby looking for the smallest PC-compatible form factor, the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC advances Samsung’s Q1 Ultra line by delivering enhanced performance, extended battery life and superior text entry. Fueled by a 1.33GHz ULV Intel Core Solo U1500 Pentium CPU running at a clock speed of 1.33 GHz, along with 1 GB of high-speed DDR2 system memory, the Q1 Ultra Premium UMPC is a no-compromise, high-performance mobile computing solution that offers full PC functionality in an ultra-light, sub 2 pound package. Powering this advanced platform is a 57.7 watt hour Lithium Ion polymer 6-cell battery that will provide up to 7.5 hours of battery life. Additionally, this new model features the split-QWERTY keypad – Version 1.5 – which provides larger, improved keycaps making text entry even easier now. With these advances, combined with the UMPC’s enhanced features and ultra-portable form-factor, the Q1 Ultra Premium is a compelling solution for those mobile applications that require a no-compromise, PC-compatible, ultra portable solution.

Samsung is also producing new accessories for the Q1 Ultra Premium, a docking station, USB keyboard, organizer case and a GPS receiver. The new Q1 will retail for $1,399 and Samsung says it will reduce prices on the older models as a result of this release. Interestingly, and Microsoft can't be happy about this, Samsung will put Windows XP Tablet Edition on the new Q1.

Instead of changing the thumboard, why not change the digitizer to some sort of multi-touch, standardize the memory to 2gb, standardize on SSD Drives without increasing the price and ship the extended battery as a standard?

Also stop tweaking the name and go in some sort of order. Q1 is the original that was well loved. Then Q1Ultra Ultra. Twice as nice because the original was also advertised as the Q1 Ultra. Now Q1Ultra Premium? Who's heading this project? Someone from the Cigarette Companies? Pick a standard and adjust accordingly. Don't confuse your customers. I only expect that from Sony.

Oh Accessories as well. All the same things they promised when the Q1Ultra originally came out last year.

Why not work on the next generation of this device instead of continuing to tweak the old one and devaluing the UMPC name? I know people want some sort of keyboard to type into, but the other parts of the computer need improvements as well.